A Bihar Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) employee has been booked in connection with a photograph of the minor victim in the Jamui molestation case and her family being posted on Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary’s X handle, after the post drew criticism from RJD leaders over the alleged disclosure of the girl’s identity.
An FIR has been registered at the Secretariat Police Station in Patna against Sagar Prasad, a stenographer posted in the CMO. The case has been registered under Section 73 of the Indian Penal Code, Section 23 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and Sections 66E and 67 of the Information Technology Act.
Misa Bharti Reaches Police Station, Says Complaint Not Accepted
RJD MP Misa Bharti went to the Secretariat Police Station in Patna on Friday to file an FIR against Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary. Bharti alleged that the police refused to accept her application.
Bharti said she had come to the police station not over a political dispute but to seek action over allegations concerning the identity of the minor victim in the Jamui case.
She questioned how an ordinary citizen could expect to have their complaint heard if the complaint of an elected MP was not being registered.
Photo Posted After CM Met Victim, Family
The minor victim and her family met Choudhary at the chief minister’s residence on Thursday. The CM assured them of speedy justice and said the accused would face the strongest possible punishment through a speedy trial.
A photograph from the meeting, showing Choudhary with the victim and her family, was subsequently posted on his X handle. The photograph was later removed after the controversy over the alleged disclosure of the minor’s identity.
Tejashwi Yadav Also Criticises CM
RJD leader and Bihar Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav also criticised Choudhary over the photograph, alleging that it revealed the identity of the minor and violated provisions of the POCSO Act. He contrasted the post with police action against social-media accounts that had circulated material revealing the victim’s identity.
Reacting to the image, Tejashwi, in an X post, said, “The foolish, inept, anti-law Chief Minister of Bihar is himself tearing apart the provisions of the POCSO Act. By posting a photo from his social media handle with the family members of the minor victim in the Jamui incident, he is exposing the victim's identity. Under the POCSO Act (2012), it is legally mandatory to keep the identity of the victim child or minor confidential, and publicising it is a serious crime. The Chief Minister of Bihar should receive the harshest possible punishment for this crime; otherwise, who will respect the POCSO Act?”
CMO Employee Named In FIR
The FIR against Sagar Prasad relates to the posting of the photograph on the chief minister’s social-media handle. The investigation has been handed over to Sub-Inspector Seema Kumari, who will examine the available digital and electronic evidence and take further legal action.
Section 23 of the POCSO Act restricts the disclosure of information that can identify a child involved in a case. The FIR invokes the provision in connection with the photograph.
What Happened In Jamui?
The matter stems from the September 19 incident in Jamui, in which a Class 10 girl and a boy returning from coaching classes were stopped by a group of youths. The girl was molested and assaulted, while the boy was separated from her.
Videos of the incident subsequently surfaced on social media, following which police registered a case and arrested the accused. Police have also taken action against social-media accounts accused of circulating material that revealed the minor’s identity.